Cagelike rotary cleaning brush for threaded bolts and the like



June 10, 1952 STARR 2,600,338

CAGELIKE ROTARY CLEANING BRUSH FOR THREADED BOLTS AND THE LIKE Filed March 6, 1950 l i {7% 7 z INVENTOR Z5 Ja me -J Z'Siarr ATTORNEY5 Patented June 10, 1952 CAGELIKE ROTARY CLEANING BRUSH FOR THREADED BOLTS AND THE LIKE James T. Starr, Brainerd, Minn.

Application March 6, 1950, Serial No. 147,790

This invention relates to a rotary cleaner and more particularly a cleaning device operative by a portable power means in which different sized brush inserts are disposed from a rotatable shank for cleaning bolts, valve stems and like articles.

It is highly desirable that accumulation of scale and rust be removed from bolts before they are re-inserted in re-assembling automotive parts and like assemblies. This is particularly true of automotive cylinder head bolts or studs which are not usually removed from the block on removal of the cylinder head therefrom. These bolts are particularly susceptible to corrosion and when the head is slid back onto the bolts any accumulated scale thereon is likely to be scraped off onto the head gasket where it causes the development of high spots which will not allow the cylinder head to be uniformly tightened.

The high spots are not readily detected by the mechanic installing the head but if they are not detected and removed the usual result is water leakage and/or a blown head gasket. The cleaning of valve stems and other types of bolts presents similar problems and the cleaning methods used heretofore have not only proved costly and time consuming but do not always provide for certain removal of scale from screw threads and from under the head portion of a bolt.

According to the present invention I provide a rotatable cage-like frame in which a cleaning element is formed as an apertured disc having radially placed steel wire bristles having free ends directed inwardly to uniformly engage the shank and threads of a bolt or like article inserted therein.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a portable cleaning tool for cleaning bolts and like articles.

Another object is to provide a rotary cleaner capable of accommodating relatively long articles.

Still another object is to provide a bolt cleaner having a radial brush formed with a ring of thread engaging bristles.

A further object is to provide a cleaning device having changeable inserts adapted to work articles of different diameters.

A still further object is to provide a cleaning tool for rotation by a portable drill or similar device as an assembly that is ready of manipulation, rugged, and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and purposes than those stated above consist in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawing and specification, and then more particularly defined in the appended claim.

1 Claim. (Cl. -179) In the drawing in which like numerals refer to like parts:

Figure 1 is a top view of my invention taken on line |-l of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the device partially sectionalized;

Figure 3 is a plan view with the bottom plate and brush removed; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a section of the bolt thread beingcleaned.

Referring now in detail to the drawing numeral l0 indicates generally the cleaning device of this invention. The device [0 is formed with a flat disc ll having a centered aperture l2 of ample diameter for insertion over bolts and like articles to be cleaned. The disc II is also formed of sum-- cient thickness to provide a downwardly opening recess I3 formed circumferentially around aperture l2. Recess I3 is dimensioned to receive in seated position therein 01 a circular brush l4 formed with a circular frame [5 of metal or like suitable material in which is mounted a plurality of radially positioned steel bristles l6. Each of the bristles I6 is provided with a free end s aced equidistant from the axial center of the brush M to form a round receiving hole ll centered relative to the brush. The receiving hole I! is dimensioned to allow for insertion therethrough of the article to be cleaned with sufficient pressure being exerted thereagainst to scrape oil any dirt, scale, rust or like accumulation adhering to the article upon rotation of the brush. The proportioning of the receiving hole I! is such that the bristles l6v are only slightly compressed so as not to cause them to foldback on themselves or turn to the side of the article being cleaned. Such an article as the bolt [8 shown in Figure 2 being held by its head I9 between a pair of vise jaws 20 will be engaged along its entire shank surface as the brush [4 is moved downwardly thereover during operation of the cleaning device H) as hereinafter explained. The manner in which the bristles [6 are radially displaced is adapted to work their free ends deep into the valley 2| of a bolt thread 22 as best illustrated in Figure 4. This arrangement of the bristles has the additional advantage that the knife-like cleaning surface presented by the bristles It allows for ready cleaning close under the head I9 or similar otherwise hard-to-get-at areas of bolts and like articles to remove the scale, rust, etc. therefrom. A bolt so cleaned is restored to its original efficient holding capacity and is capable of being drawn to a tight, firm bolting position. The brush I4 is held in its seated position in recess [3 by a circular bottom plate 23 center apertured as at 24 so as to be alignable with disc I l. The bottom plate 23 is preferably of approximately the same thickness as disc II and is similarly recessed to form a recess shoulder 25 spaced from the top shoulder 26 of recess l3 formed in the disc. The matching recesses of the disc and plate are formed of suificient depth to space shoulders 25 and 26 apart with the space therebetween being slightly less than the thickness of the brush I4 so that the brush will be held snu ly in its seated position fixed against rotation relative to the disc II when the bottom plate 23 is tightened thereagainst by suitable screw bolts 26a or like holding means extending through,

suitable holes 29a in the disc and plate.

Extending upwardly from the disc H are a.

plurality of rods or arms 21 having. secured ends 28 inserted in holes 29 spaced alternatively with holes 29a radially around the disc. The rods 21.

are rigidly secured to the disc It by being weldedlthereto-as, at 13iigas be t hown in F ur 2 or by any other suitable holding means. Rods 2'! are formed,with parallel straight portions 21a of sufficient length to allow foriinsertion-there- "betweenand through thedis it of the longest bolt or valve stem to be cleaned. Their radial arrangement and length provides a cage like structure extending upwardly;irom thedisc H under which is placed thebrush m which not only provides an econgmicaland efiicient strucof .thezrods turned inwardly toward-the axial center line of the. device 88-. The topends 32 of the rods are; in turn joined, to a centered, baror shank. portion-chats by being welded thereto with the. shank. adaptedior .insertionin a drill chuck or like rotating means-capable of supporting and rotating the device- [6 about its axial :centerline. I. haveioundthaa withthis" construction ;the device .lfl operates very eficiently; when inserted; in a portable electricadrillimot shown): and can be readily manipulated in close quarters atflarious locations about an automobile-..

The: operation of device It: isv very similacto that oi-drilling zbyvmeans of-a portabieilelectrio drill; I First,- a'brush=i4: of suitable siaezfcr the article: to be cleaned .isinstalled-in therecess: l3

withcthe bottom-plate ia boltedethereto by bolts 2821: Selection" of the right size: of brush: is -a relae tlvel'y" routineam'atter as the receivingv *hfllflirl 7 of.-- each- -brushz l 41' is dimensioned for working standard size bolts and rods. Therefore, knowing the diameter of the article to be worked is all that is necessary to enable the user to select the right size of brush to be used. The shank I3 is then inserted in the drill chuck and the device It is then rotated at a relatively high speed. Whether or not the device Iii is to be lowered over the article to be cleaned or the article is to be inserted throughv the receiving hole i! will depend primarily-on whether or not the article is fixed or portable and ready of handling. In most instances it will be found that running of the rotating ,brush I4 several times over the length of the article to be cleaned will restore it to its original clean condition. However, in certain instances where the accumulation may be heavy the cleaning of, the areas thereof can be readily observed through the open cage-like arrangement provided by rods 2? so that the other areas of the article need not be, overcleaned.

Although the present invention has been shown and described in detailv with certain combina tions and relationships of parts, it will be appreciated that changes, alterations -mod-ifications, and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the-claim;

I claim:

A rotary cleaning device. comprising -a shank insertable in a drill chuck, a support means-having legs extending from the shank with the ends thereof: spaced radially fromlsaid shank, a flat disc carried bysaid legs and coaxially disposed with said shank ,fcrcentered; rotation therewith, an aperture, formed inthedisc rcrx t r i sertion therethrough of a round linear article to be cleaned, a flat circular brush carried by the d sc for centered rotation. therewithtsaidbrush having inwardly directed radicallysdisposed wire bristles all extending in approximatelyvthe, same plane for circular. engagement: with the article being cleaned;

JAIi IES'IK-S ILARR,

earnest-sons err-En. The following reierencesare of record-in the file of this patent-z UNITED STATESPATENTS, 

